Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is a treatment that assists our body’s innate ability to heal itself. It is also known as nonsurgical ligament reconstruction, and is a treatment for chronic pain including arthritis, back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia, sports injuries, unresolved whiplash injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic tendonitis, partially torn tendons, ligaments and cartilage, degenerated or herniated discs, TMJ and sciatica. The word prolotherapy means proliferation (growth, formation) of new ligament tissue in areas where it has become weak. Ligaments are the structural “rubber bands” that hold bones to bones in joints. In some instances, ligaments that sustain injury may not heal back to their original strength and endurance because the blood supply to ligaments is limited. As a result, the healing is slow and not always complete. To further complicate this, ligaments also have many nerve endings and therefore the person will feel pain at the areas where the ligaments are damaged or loose. Tendons, which connects muscles to bones may also get injured, and cause pain.

Prolotherapy uses one type of organic solution, e.g. dextrose (sugar water) or sodium morrhuate (fish oil) solution. When it is injected into the injured ligament or tendon, it causes a localized inflammation in these weak areas which then increases the blood supply and flow of nutrients and stimulates the tissue to repair itself.

How long will it take to complete a course of treatments?

The response to treatment varies from individual to individual, and depends upon one’s healing ability. Some people may only need a few treatments while others may need 10 or more. The average number of treatments is 4-6 for an area treated.